Grading

All of these hikes would be regarded as easy for the hiking fit. This grading system is for regular hikers who are comfortable hiking for 3-4 hrs but are not necessarily very fit and all hikes have been categorised into three grades, namely Easy; Moderate and Moderately Strenuous. There are no difficult hikes. The grading system is based on the Shenandoah Hiking Difficulty Equation which is a numerical rating using the following formula: (Elevation Gain in meter x 3.281) x 2 x (Distance in Kilometer/ 1.609).

The Shenandoah Hiking scale provides the following categories:

Easiest - Numerical Rating: less than 50

A hike that is generally suitable for anyone who enjoys walking. Mostly level or with a slight incline.

Moderate - Numerical Rating: 50-100

A hike that is generally suitable for novice hikers who want a bit of a challenge. The terrain will involve a moderate incline and may have some steeper sections.

Moderately Strenuous - Numerical Rating: 100 –150

A Moderately Strenuous hike will generally be challenging for an unconditioned person. The terrain will involve a steady and often steep incline.

Please note that only one of the hikes meet the Shenandoah Easiest Category and that hikes in the Shenandoah 50-70 category have also been classified as easy on this site.

Some hikes involve some easy scrambling but only one (Camel Rock) has very mild and brief exposure. Most routes are easy to follow with the help of the AllTrails app but four are better not attempted for the first time without a guide unless you are confident at route finding and following cairns - these are: Camel Rock; Elsies Peak Climbing Traverse, Cave Peak Loop and Klein Tuinkop via Dassieskasteel Traverse.

The Hikes by Grade

Easy

Trappieskop - Kalk Bay (Shenandoah 41)

Elsies Peak Climbing Traverse - Fish Hoek (Shenandoah 54)

Gifkommetjie Cliffs and Beach - Cape Point (Shenandoah 58)

Steenberg Peak via Wolfkop - Silvermine East (Shenandoah 60)

Antoniesgat - Cape Point (Shenandoah 61)

The Shipwreck Trail - Cape Point (Shenandoah 65)

Moderate

Sirkelsvlei Trail - Cape Point (Shenandoah 75)

The Amphitheatre Trail (Shenandoah 79)

Vlakkenberg from Price Drive - Constantia (Shenandoah 79)